Pet Portrait Portfolio

Tuesday, March 1, 2016

Boxer Portrait in Oil Completed!

This is Boo Boo. Boo Boo is a very special Boxer. She is four years old and is the beloved dog of a family with three children. My family. She is owned by my stepdaughter and family. One of the children is a three year old toddler who has never known a day without his best buddy Boo Boo. Boo Boo has watched over him since the day he came home from the hospital and has been his loyal companion since. There were times when he was a baby that I could swear they had their own language going on, that's how close they were.

My grandson would step all over her while he was learning to walk, and she would patiently lay there and kiss her baby. Wherever he went, she followed. She is the sweetest, most gently dog you could ever encounter. She was a bouncing handful when she was a pup, but grew to be so loving and gentle, and very comical.

Sadly, Boo Boo had a tumour removed from her leg a couple of years ago. She has done really well and was cancer free all this time, but recently got lymphoma. Boo Boo is not expected to make it longer than another five months or so. She is on chemo and is being kept very comfortable and pain free. It's very heartbreaking to know she will be so missed by a family that has treated her as one of their own, like a furry human. My grandson will miss her so much once she leaves. He understands she is sick and will soon have to go, but none of us are looking forward to that day.

I decided to paint this before that time. I felt it was better they have this before, this way it might be easier for them when they receive it.

It's never easy to lose a loved one, and our four-legged family members are just as well loved and important. They leave a huge hole in our hearts when they leave us and each is unique and irreplaceable.

It wasn't my goal to make this be a depressing post, but I wanted to share just how special this pet portrait was, as they all are.

Thank you so much for looking and for reading. I will be back tomorrow with another painting and another story. It's the week for stories in my work.

In case you missed it . . . watch me painting a Shih Tzu dog portrait in oil from start to finish. This time lapse video is condensed from over 8 hours of painting. Enjoy!

2 comments:

I've seen many many pet portraits but this one blew me away! The markings on her are SO beautiful, Carole!! And such a sad story...if you don't have a pet you wouldn't understand how much they are part of us. This portrait will be forever treasured by your family...

Buddy, German Shepherd Portrait in Oil

About Me

I am a Canadian artist living in Sudbury, Ontario. My artistic passions include oil painting still life, pet portraits, and other animals. My artistic spirit is fueled by a passion for capturing the beauty in this world. I am available for pet portrait commissions in oil of your dog, cat, horse, bird, rabbit, or whatever animal you want painted. I also do still life commissions. View more of my art or inquire about commissioning a painting at www.carolerodrigue.com